Chicago may be a “hellhole” according to President Donald Trump, but the city by the lake proved a pretty attractive destination for visitors over the summer, generating records for hotel occupancy and revenue.

From June through August, hotels in Chicago’s Central Business District booked nearly 3.6 million room nights, a 4.3% gain over 2024 that topped the pre-COVID record in the summer of 2019, according to data released Tuesday by Choose Chicago, the city’s tourism arm.

Chicago hotels also set a new revenue record, generating $949 million over the three months, up 0.8% over last summer .

“We had a record-breaking summer,” said Kristen Reynolds, Choose Chicago’s president and CEO. “And we’re doing it in a time with incredible headwinds, where most other tourism destinations are hap

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